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The director of Tourism of Galicia, Nava Castro, reported from Valdoviño – A Coruña – on the new regulations for this type of accommodation, which “stands out for its simplification and clarity of criteria” for campsites in Galicia.

New star rating

Among the main novelties, the new classification by stars in five categories stands out, adapting its regulation to a widespread trend in other autonomous communities and other countries of the European Union and replacing the previous classification that identified them as superior, first and second.

According to the criteria established by the decree, campsites with the highest number of stars must offer equipment such as outdoor swimming pool, playground, leisure room or games, washing machines and dishwashers or services such as restaurant, cafeteria, supermarket, entertainment programs or childcare services, among others. As a novelty, the classification requirements will now be set according to the number of places and not the number of plots, as was the case until now. From the Xunta clarify that “the services of the campsite will be better dimensioned taking into account the number of users to be a more accurate correspondence.

For the process of adaptation to the classification by stars, the regulations set a period of five years for current campsites, except in the case of those who seek a change of category or make substantial works of extension or rehabilitation that affect their classification, which will have the duty to adapt now.

Three areas of specialisation

In addition to the star rating, Galician campsites may specialise in three areas. In addition to the current green tourism campsite label, there are now the figures of thematic tourism campsites (sports, cultural…) as well as the specialisation of campsites exclusively for caravans and motorhomes.

Another new feature of the regulations is the possibility of stable camp facilities, such as cabins or bungalows, being marketed by intermediaries as tour operators.

The decree will have a direct impact on the more than 120 campsites registered in the Register of Tourist Companies and Activities (REAT), which total more than 34,000 places. This type of tourism in campsites is consolidated in our Community. It represents 9.3% of the tourist demand in Galicia and this year it grows at a rate of 33% in number of travellers.